david badcock - feature item

Whilst completing an overtake on a small 'C' road a couple of miles North of Scotch Corner my main drive belt snapped. Normally I'd call the RAC for a ride home but for some reason I called my fellow Geordie Chapter members Joe and Julie Horsefield. Coincidentally Joe and Julie were returning North after buying and collecting a fabulous custom bike from Stockport.

They were about 6 miles South of my location, had a slot on their trailer for my Ulysses and Graham, my riding buddy was in Zumo/Bluetooth contact with me and could rendevous with Joe and Julie and bring them to my location. Unbelievable. Bike all strapped down and on my way within 10 minutes of the tragedy!

Even though this was a warranty job, all Harley and Buell belts are covered in their 2 year warranty if the guards are in place, I decided I wanted to change the belt myself. Part of my Ultimate Coast to Coast to Coast (UC2C2C) plans were to buy a Ulysses because you could, alegedly, change a belt at the roadside with their removable section of the swinging arm specifically designed to facilitate easy belt replacement.

	Here is where I keep my spare belt whilst on a LD ride, the top of my Zeiga Case, and my Kruz Tools kit		Here is my tool kit with the 1/2" toggle bar and sockets.
	Followed the manual but tried to do it without raising the back wheel, as instructed. Front sprocket and footpeg bracket removed		Here is the Ulysses secret, a removable brace from the swing arm allowing the belt to be replaced whilst the swing arm is in position. Very clever.
	The lower and upper belt guards removed, the brace can also be seen.		New belt on and the reason to raise the back wheel becomes apparent; it is to seat the belt onto the pulley and allow the tensioner pulley to be re-installed.
	Swing Arm Brace back in position		All boxed up in 1 hour 20 minutes, just a test ride to perform.

The experiment worked, only an hour and a bit to do the job admitedly in ideal circumstances. The only tools I needed extra were a larger toggle bar, a jack and a torque wrench. I will have to decide if these three items are to be added to my packing list for the UC2C2C. Ah well food for thought.